Level and key-seat rule



N M d .3 P. SOHAEFBR LEVEL AND KEY SEAT RULE.

No. 516,024. Patented Mar. 6, 1894.

UiviTnn STnTns PATENT Tries.

FRED SOIIAEFER, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

LEVEL AND KEY SEAT RULE.

SEEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 516,024, dated March 6,1894. Application filed January 13. 1893. $erial No. 458,255. (Nomodel.)

.To a-ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED SGHAEFER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in aCombined Level and Key-Seat Rule; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

\Iy invention has fhr its object to provide an efficient combined leveland key-seat rule.

My device is hereinafter fully described and the novel features of theconstruction are defined in the claims.

' In the drawings, like letters referring to like parts,--Figure l is aside elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on theline X X of Fig. 1,showing the device in position on a shaft; and Fig. 3is a bottom view of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A is the level frame, of skeleton rectangular form, which is preferablymade With top, bot tom and end straight edges. The bottom of the levelframe is constructed with a longitudinalV-shaped groove a, running theentire length of the frame. This groove is an important feature, of myinvention, the purpose of which will presently appear. As shown, thelevel frame carries three level tubes B, the central member of whichco-operates with the top and bottom straight edges and with the V-shapedbottom groove in taking levels and the end members of which co-operaiewith said straight edges, in taking plumb lines of vertical bodies.These level tubes B are secured by cement or otherwise, withoutrequiring any special care as to accuracy, in corresponding tube boxesB. B are, on the other hand, supported in the frame with means foraccurate adjustment. The means, which I prefer, for this purpose andhave shown in the drawings, consists of the following novelconstruction. Each tube box has a knife edged fulcrum lug 1), projectingfrom its inner surface and working in a V-shaped fulcrum block b on thelevel frame.

The tube-boxes Set-screws 39 work through seats in the rim of the leveland have conical points which engage eorresponding seatson the outersurfaces of the tube-boxes, on opposite sides of the fulcrum lug,preferably at or near the ends of the boxes, as shown at h Theset-screws b will, therefore, hold the fulcrum lug b in its seat I) andthe tube-box B and tube B in any desired adjustment relative to thelevel frame necessary for the proper alignment. The heads of theset-screws b are countersunk in the rim of the level frame, so as not toimpair the straight edges thereon.

It is obvious, that the peculiar construction and engagement of theset-screws 32 with the tube-boxes, not only serve to level the boxes andtubes with the straight edges of the frame, but also serve to preventthe longitudinal and lateral motion of the said boxes and tubes. Invirtue of the conical points on the set-screws and the correspondingseats on the ends of the bones,withwhich said points engage,thehoxescannot move lengthwise nor roll laterally. In other words, thisconstruction both serves to align and hold the boxes in their properposition, in respect to the level frame, and in respect to the fulcrumof the tube-box.

The level tubes are charged with any suitable fluid b.

0 represents an ordinary shaft.

The use of the device, as thus constructed, is evident.

By means of the various level tubes both horizontal and perpendicularpositions of bodies may be indicated; the outer or lower edges of the Vshaped edge serving as a straight edge when applied to flat bodies andserving, when applied to a round body such as a shaft, to position thelevel-frame longitudinally, parallel to the axis of the shaft. Thislatter function of the V-shaped groove is important; but the said grooveserves a still more important function as a key-seat rule. When thelevel is applied to a shaft, as just described, the engaging edges ofthe V-shaped groove will be parallel with the axis of the shaft andeither of the same may be used as a straight edge to mark off thekey-seat on the shaft. The field and demand for such a de vice, forlining shafts and marking key-seat are very large.

My level is, of course, capable of the general uses to which anyordinary level is applied; and, in addition, is adapted to the especialuses and purposes hereinbefore set out.

The article can be made as cheaply as the ordinary level.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is as follows:

1. In a level, the combination with the level frame, of one or moreadjustable tube boxes, each provided With a fluid tube, and each tubebox being fulcrumed on the level frame, by means of a fulcrum lugdepending from its central portion and engaging a transversely groovedfulcrum-block on the level frame, and adjustably held in position by apair of set screws, working in said level frame, 20 and engaging theother opposite ends of the tube box, substantially as described.

2. In a level, the combination with the frame A, of the tube-boxes Bcontaining the level tubes 13 and provided with the central fulcrum lugsZ) on their under surfaces engaging with the fulcrum-blocks b on theframe and the set-screws 17 Working through the rim of the frame andhaving conical points engaging corresponding seats on the upper ends ofthe level-box tubes, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRED SOHAEFER.

Witnesses:

J AS. F. WILLIAMSON, FRANK D. MERCHANT.

